Marshawn Lynch absolutely refuses to code switch. His candor, regardless of the audience, has yielded unforgettable quotations — “I’m just here so I won’t get fined”; “Take care of your chicken, take care of your mental” — that have marked him as a sage of sorts, somebody who is sought out in his retirement by current players in need of mentoring and by brands hoping to make an impression.
A 12-year N.F.L. veteran who last played in 2019 and an in-demand pitchman, Lynch was a founder of Beast Mode Marketing, which represents players like running back Najee Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers and advises college athletes on name, image and likeness opportunities.